Is this necessary? Most people in our country aren’t aware that there are more than two choices for President this year (and most years). Wouldn’t it be a waste of a vote to pick someone who doesn’t show well in the polls and would be lucky to get 5% of the total votes? What is a faithful Christian to do?
It is our responsibility as citizens of this country to choose our leaders. If our government is bad we have the option to vote those people out of office at the end of their terms.
"Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature ... If the next centennial does not find us a great nation...it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces." -James Garfield, 1877, 20th President of the United StatesTo vote for the “lesser of two evils” is to tolerate poor decision making simply because one makes slightly better decisions than the other. To vote this way is to tolerate recklessness because one is slightly less reckless than the other. It is to tolerate corruption because one is a little less corrupt than the other. If we continue to vote for the lesser of two evils, we continue to vote for evil; even if our goal is to simply slow down the evil.
We continue to vote for the lesser evil candidate hoping for him to change this country. But when his path is down the wrong road to begin with, what hope do we have for change. Isn’t this a picture of that cliché definition of insanity, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.”
Christians often vote for the republican candidates who claim they are pro-life and promise to work toward the end of abortion. But republicans had been in control for six years and did nothing to overturn Roe v. Wade. The republican president did nothing to deny funding to abortion clinics. We blindly accept over and over their promises and when they do nothing we vote for them again because at election time they call themselves “pro-life.”
If you were given the choice to vote for Joseph Stalin or Adolf Hitler, or a Christian who promises to uphold the biblical values set up by the founding fathers but is unlikely to win, who would you vote for? Both of the major candidates do offer some good things, giving money to those with little, funding the education system, and a strong military, but we already know their pitfalls. In this extreme example, the lesser of two evils idea doesn’t work. Why is it different now when we are presented with two candidates who have shown that they will not uphold Christian principles or even the Constitution of the United States? Especially when we have other good candidates to choose from?
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." -- John Quincy Adams, 6th President of the United States
Christians believe (or should believe) that God is in control of this world. Nothing happens without God guiding or allowing it to happen. Barack Obama or John McCain will not sneak under God’s radar and change God’s plan. Everyone who comes to power comes because of the will of God (1 Samuel 2:6-8, Romans 9:17, Romans 13:1 1 Peter 2:13,14). As Christians, we aren’t supposed to try and manipulate the system with our vote for someone who will offer us a couple of snacks so he can get into office and then ignore the will of the people. We are to be faithful to God in all things, even against insurmountable odds. God is faithful to do His will; we are simply to be obedient.
Despite major public opposition, both major presidential candidates voted for the country to go several hundred billion dollars more into debt. They promise us one thing, but when it comes down to listening to their constituents, they don’t think we are smart enough to be listened to. If they hear us saying we want abortions to go away and promise to work toward that end, what makes us think they will actually do what we ask when the time comes? They haven’t listened to us in the past.
It is time for us to start voting for what is right, not simply to avoid the worst case. We should be obedient to God, and let Him handle the results. Vote for the person who best represents your beliefs. Don’t let fear guide your vote; if God desires to put an ungodly leader in control, He will still be with His people. Inform your conscience by investigating all of the candidates, give loyalty to God not to a political party, and vote for the person who you believe will lead this country with the fear of God, not the fear of men.
Gideon took on an army with just 300 men while God brought the victory.A young shepherd boy named David trusted God to take care of an entire army as he stepped forward in faith with a sling and small stone.
The disciples were told to take the gospel to the ends of the earth; a few men to millions of people over millions of miles. They were simply obedient to an apparently impossible task and God brought about the results.
It is time American Christians stop playing on the defensive side of the ball and start voting for the right candidates. Many people would love to vote for the best candidate, but they are afraid they are throwing away their votes. Where are we putting our trust? In our single vote, or the God of the universe who rewards faithfulness? God changes nations through the faithful obedience of a few, not through the pragmatic scheming of the majority.
2 Americans 7:14 if my people who are called by my name, will get a majority together to vote pragmatically for a man who may pass good laws, then they will change the hearts of the people and heal the land.
OR
2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Let’s have faith in God to orchestrate the actions of men to bring about godly leaders as we humbly repent of our sins and act in faithful obedience in all areas of our lives to our biblically informed consciences.
2 comments:
Very good post Adam! I would like to offer for those who feel called to vote despite our discussion on the other thread another way of looking at not voting. This time I'll argue from reason instead of the Bible since reason appears to be preferred anyways (I'm still waiting for a response if anyone would like to give one in the other discussion).
If we honestly look at what this country is like approaching election season we can see that this has become a mindless ritual for the nation. How do you upset a ritual? By doing something that makes people pause and think. It is because voting has become a ritual that not voting is seen as apathetic, but if you can convey reasons to those who would questions your lack of commitment to the democratic ritual it would be like an act of civil disobedience.
For those who are in it to change things, consider not voting as a demand upon the system that you want real change and real choices for candidates. If people ask what you did on election day don't be afraid to let them know that you didn't vote and why. It takes a lot of civil disobedience to get a system to change, but the more the idea spreads the quicker it will happen.
It isn't uncommon for me to hear people tell me, "if you don't vote then you have no right to complain." I completely disagree with these sentiments. It's the voter that has no right to complain. How can a broken system be fixed by perpetuating it? If people are really unhappy with it then they should stop using it until it gets fixed. One doesn't buy a particular model of watch if it consistently breaks in the same way at the same time. So why complain about the system of voting and continue to use it at the same time? Show people the dissatisfaction by rejecting it until it gets fixed.
Thanks Blake for interacting in this one. The reason I wrote these posts is because I have been concerned about the lack of faith people have in God as they head to the polls. It seems that the majority of Christians have been put on the defensive; voting out of fear of a terrible leader. The common thought is, "If I don't vote for the lesser of two evils, the greater of two evils will win and then our country will be destroyed."
To that all I can think of is: Who is your faith in? Do you not trust God? We should not fear any ruler nor the destruction of an ungodly nation. If God wants the United States to have a terrible president, it is likely to be His judgment on a country where the majority of people don't trust Him anyway. If God wants a righteous leader of our country, it won't likely be because the majority wanted it (since when does the majority desire righteousness). He will raise up a godly leader out of a faithful minority.
The godly leaders of the Old Testament often came after the majority rebelled against Him. Then, through a faithful few, He brought up a good leader out of the destruction. Perhaps this is what the United States needs. I am ready to accept whatever leader God places in authority; but I will only vote for one who fears God.
Often, people say that there is no way a guy can win the election; there would have to be some miraculous sequencing of events for it to happen. If that is what they believe, I wonder if they have ever read through the entire bible; full of God intervening miraculously. As long as there is a faithful, God-fearing, Christian to vote for, I will cast my vote with a clean conscience and let God orchestrate the events of history.
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